Golf Betting – Ogilvy Injury Affects Tournament Betting

Golf bettors were thrown a bit of a curveball early Thursday when it was reported that Geoff Ogilvy has suffered an injury that affects the betting in the Tournament of Champions, where he is the two-time defending champion.

The tournament gets underway late Thursday afternoon at the Kapalua Country Club in Hawaii, and now Ogilvy has been elevated to +1200 in the golf betting odds for the event, with Ernie Els the new favorite at +700.

[Off topic: by the way, do you want to get a 55% bonus on your first deposit here at BetOnline? Find out more exciting details HERE.]

Golf Online Betting

Tournament of Champions

January 6-9, 2011

Plantation Course

Kapalua, Hawaii

TV Schedule:

(All times Eastern)

Thursday, Friday, Saturday — Golf Channel: 5:30-10 PM, 10:30 PM-3 AM

Sunday — Golf Channel: 6-10 PM

The trouble for Ogilvy began when he was on the beach in Maui, and fell in the water, scraping his hand against a coral reef. His right index finger was cut, and a trip to the doctor resulted in twelve stitches. He withdrew from the pro-am on Wednesday, and he has gone from the tournament golf betting favorite to a price of 12/1, which places him behind four other players.

Golf Betting

To Win — Tournament of Champions

(20/1 or lower)

• Geoff Ogilvy +1200
• Ernie Els +700
• Jim Furyk +900
• Graeme McDowell +1000
• Dustin Johnson +1000
• Steve Stricker +1200
• Ian Poulter +1300
• Hunter Mahan +1300
• Matt Kuchar +1300
• Adam Scott +1300
• Francesco Molinari +1500
• Stuart Appleby +1500
• Camilo Villegas +1800
• Anthony Kim +2000

Ogilvy’s agent,. Paul Galli of Pro-Sport Management, explained that Ogilvy has not taken any shots, and that even practicing his swing in the hotel has produced some pain.

A report from Golf Channel was that Ogilvy might just tee it up and hit one shot on Thursday, then withdraw from the tournament. In that way, he could at least claim last-place prize money, according to Joel Schuchmann, the communications director of the PGA betting Tour. But if he were to withdraw without taking a shot it wouldn’t count against his status among the tour money list leaders or FedEx Cup points, which gives you an idea of how screwed up some of the PGA’s rules are. Certainly golf bettors understand, but at the same time, they should be aware of the possibilities and be wary of playing Ogilvy at any price.

Ogilvy was going to try to win for three straight years at the T of C, in which case he would join his fellow Aussie, Stuart Appleby, who is now moved up to +1500 in the golf betting odds. Jim Furyk is now at +900 and in the head-to-head golf betting matchup, is favored by -275 over Ogilvy.

If Ogilvy winds up not playing, it would be the first time since 1961 that this event would not have its defending champion involved. it would be hard to imagine at this point that he would be in top condition to attack the Plantation Course even if he went ail the way through. Els, the new favorite at +700, is a former *U.S. Open champ like Ogilvy and won this tournament in 2003, setting a record of 31 under par and beating K.J. Choi and Rocco Mediate by eight strokes.

Do your golf betting action at BetOnline Sportsbook this week, click here!